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35
Maternity and Child Welfare.
Maternity and Child Welfare work is the rock upon which all
other public health activities may be built; it is, therefore, the most
fundamental of public health activities.
Throughout the country generally, and in Hampstead in particular,
invaluable work has been done in the past, and is being carried
on to-day by voluntary associations. These Bodies have done much
excellent service, especially in the direction of pioneer work and in
experimental activities associated with various forms of social service.
Acting on the instructions of my Committee, in October last I prepared
a report in which I suggested various modifications which, in my
opinion, were calculated to bring the work of the Council of Social
Welfare more closely associated with the duties already being performed
by the Committee and officers of the Borough. A special
sub-committee was appointed to enquire into this report and at the
close of the year negotiations were still in progress.
The following services are undertaken with the approval of the
Ministry of Health for supervising the health of expectant or nursing
mothers and children under five years of age.
Home visiting by health visitors of expectant or nursing mothers, and of
children up to five years of age.
Infant Welfare Centres.
Toddlers' Clinic.
Distribution of pamphlets and booklets giving advice on various matters
concerning the welfare of mothers and children.
Midwives and home nursing of children and women. These services are
secured by subsidising the two local District Nursing Associations.
Ante-natal Clinics for medical supervision and for giving advice to
expectant mothers.
Dental Clinics for expectant or nursing mothers, and children up to five
years of age.
Maternity Hospitals.
Home for care of children whose mothers are in hospitals for confinement,
etc.
Convalescent Homes for ailing children, and for mothers with their babies
after confinement.
Homes for unmarried mothers.